Quan Yin And Her Sister Tara

Quan Yin and Tara share the same experience of being females who have attained enlightenment and both are known as heavenly deities who hear and respond to the cries of the world. They also share the symbol of the lotus flower and both are depicted sitting on a lotus flower. Tara is often shown holding three lotus flowers, which represent the three different levels of enlightenment.

Like her sister Quan Yin, Tara shares many different myths about her origin. One legend describes Avalokiteshvara being overwhelmed by his task as a bodhisattva that two tears ran from his eyes, one became the White Tara and the other the Green Tara who assist him in responding to the cries of the world. Tara also works tirelessly for the benefit of all sentient beings, just like Quan Yin.

Another story Quan Yin and Tara share is when Tara reached a high level of realization, a Buddhist monk mocked her, saying that from then on she should consciously reincarnated as a male, since the body of a female poses more obstacles to enlightenment. Tara answered in absolute truth, there was no such thing as male and female, and vowed that she would incarnate exclusively as a woman in order to become enlightened in a female body. After she showed it was possible to reach enlightenment as a female, Tara became known in Tibet as the “Savioress” or “Liberator” and has provided inspiration for generations of spiritual practitioners of both genders ever since, as Quan Yin has done. 

To see a Green Tara Tibetan Buddhist Thangka click on image:  

 Green Tara Tibetan Buddhist Thangka

Quan Yin And Her Sister Mary

Both Quan Yin and Mary embody the feminine ideal of compassion. First, they resemble each other by the loosely fitting flowing robes they wear that covers and hides their bodies. Second, they share flower symbols: the rose is associated with Mary and the lotus signifies Quan Yin’s purity and enlightenment. Both divine mother figures are worshiped by large numbers of people throughout the world.

Simultaneously Quan Yin and Mary were emerging as prominent female figures in China. It was the Christian missionaries who began spreading the image of Mary therefore both gained popularity and acceptance during the 7^th century, sharing similar images. The people sensed the correlation between these spiritual “sisters”, sometimes confusing the images of Quan Yin with those of Mary. Depictions of Quan Yin wearing a veil was inspired by the Renaissance Madonna and Child images seen by Chinese artists.

For centuries Japanese Christians faced official persecution and Quan Yin became their protector. They utilized her similarity to Mary, worshipping her image while pretending to be Buddhists and hiding their pictures of Christian saints inside Buddhist statues. There was even a hybrid statue that evolved, resembling the form of Quan Yin with Children, which carried a concealed Christian cross.

Today there are quite a few alters in the East and West, which hold both figures of Quan Yin and Mary; this is evidence of their sisterly task in the world and the dialogue between the two religions.

Quan Yin and Mary have never stopped interceding on behalf of the world, their intersession obtaining endless favors and miracles.

As a side note: Mary is known by many names such as the Virgin Mary, the Blessed Mother, the Queen of Heaven, the Queen of Angels, the Star of the Sea, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mother of Mercy, Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, the Madonna, Our Lady of Fatima, Mother of God and Mother of Jesus.

To see a statue of Kuan Yin Water and Moon Bodhisattva click on image:  
 Buddhist Buddha Water & Moon Kuan Yin Bodhisattva - Statue Figurine

Quan Yin On The Elephant

Being the largest animal to walk the earth, the elephant is known as a sacred animal in the East.

The elephant symbolizes strength, power, perseverance, patience, wisdom, dignity and good fortune.

When we see Quan Yin on the white elephant, we are being blessed with good fortune.

If we find ourselves facing a challenge in our life, we do not have to deal with it alone. We can choose to relax and close our eyes to turn within, bringing forth our strength and power and we can call upon Quan Yin and the great elephant to guide us with wisdom, patience and perseverance to overcome the obstacle that has been temporarily placed in our life.

Every time we are presented with a challenge in life, we are being given the opportunity to grow and become a brighter light in the world, not just for ourselves but for others as well.

May you be blessed with good fortune from this day forward. 

To see a Tibetan Silver Statue Kwan Yin Riding Elephant click on image:  
 Kwan Yin Tibetan Silver Statue Bodhisattva of Compassion Kwan Yin & Elephant

Quan Yin Riding The Turtle

In Asian mythology the turtle represents cosmic order; its upper shell is symbolic of the heavens, its body symbolizes the earth and its under shell represents the underworld.

Order, creation, patience, strength, stability, longevity, innocence, endurance, protection and Yin energy are symbols Quan Yin and the turtle share.

If we are open to the wisdom Quan Yin and the turtle have to offer us and we apply it in our daily living we will do well in life.

When Quan Yin rides the turtle into our life they bring us the lessons of learning to move at our own pace and not to react in our daily living, but simply to accept and move in our natural methods.

We all have our unique talents and gifts and when we put these lessons into practice we become consciously whole in spirit, mind and body. Having immediate access to the wisdom that lies within us assists us to have a steady approach to life.

To see a bronze statue of Kuan-Yin on a Sea Turtle click on image:  
 Buddhist Goddess Kuan-yin (Guanyin) on Sea Turtle, Real Bronze Powder Cast Statue 6-1/2-inch